EP must muster up 259 more meters

Katie White

Staff Writer

kwhite@mojonews.com

EAST PALESTINE — While the project to replace all water meters throughout the village went swiftly, it still isn’t quite done.

The village learned during the replacement project that 259 additional meters are needed in order to replace all meters.

Council passed emergency legislation last week allowing for the purchase of the additional meters through the NECO Co. at a cost not to exceed $87,000.

The project is being done at no cost increase to residents, with the money to pay for the project — including the additional meters — to come from the wastewater capital replacement fund, water capital replacement fund and water fund.

Prior to the additional meters, the overall project was estimated to cost roughly $700,000, and the village is financing the project through the Tax Exempt Leasing Corp. at a 2.89 percent interest over five years.

“We have the money to do this,” Finance Director Traci Thompson said.

She added that she anticipates the new meters will actually cost around $79,700, but that she set the figure at $87,000 just in case.

Either way, the money is there, she explained.

She has already earmarked $25,000 to come from the wastewater capital replacement fund, $20,000 from the water capital replacement fund and $30,000 from the water fund to cover the additional cost.

Passing the legislation as an emergency waives the mandatory 30-day wait period before it can take effect.

In other business, council also gave a third and final reading to legislation setting the 2018 preliminary budget, and passing it as an emergency.

The only other legislation before council was also passed as an emergency, and it allows the village manager to lower pool pass prices after July 1 each year.

Village Manager Pete Monteleone explained that although the village is having a record year with regard to daily attendance and pool pass sales, he felt that it would be beneficial to offer pool passes at a discounted rate to those who may have already missed the start of the season.

The pool has already made $17,020 in season passes between May and June and $14,607 in daily admissions, according to the park revenue report presented last week.